Kinetically balanced bi-direction rotational wave energy converter

Abstract

An improved apparatus and method to extract the mechanical energy of waves, tides and water movement into useful mechanical energy, a wave energy converter (WEC). This device is easily scaled to harness said energy according to the needs of local conditions or user requirements. It has five elements, to be placed in a body of water. Two of those elements being a buoyant body, containing an apparatus for water motion energy conversion, and a reactive free weight being able to move relative to each other in response to forces exerted by the body of water. A mooring system, to which, is attached a flexible member. The flexible member attaches these elements together as one device. Upon its length it contains at least two re-positionable elements which restrain the motion of the buoyant body along the length of the flexible member.

1 . An improved apparatus and method to extract the mechanical energy of waves, tides and water movement into useful mechanical energy, a wave energy converter (WEC). This device is scaled to harness said energy according to the needs of local conditions or user requirements. It's elements are intended to be placed in a body of water. Two elements, a buoyant body containing the apparatus for water motion energy conversion and a reactive free weight being able to move relative to each other in response to forces by the body of water. A mooring system to which is attached a flexible member. The flexible member attaches these elements together as one device and on its length contains at least two movable elements which contain the motion of the buoyant body along the length of the flexible member. 
   
   
       2 . The combination as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said means for extracting energy is a maintained in the buoyant body (shell); another is a mooring which may be temporary or permanent. A third element, which is a reactionary moving weight, attached to the free end of the flexible member. Said weight is scaled to the buoyancy of the WEC's shell, thus serving to the effective scalability and efficiency of the overall device. 
   
   
       3 . The combination as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the flexible member (tether) is rotationally attached, wrapped and/or warped to a freely rotating cylindrical member as a part of the WEC. The flexible member (tether and/or line) causes a cylindrical member to rotate bi-directionally as the WEC reacts with the water's motion. 
   
   
       4 . The combination as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the reaction of the WEC is enhanced through the suspended potential kinetic energy of the reactionary free moving weight attached to the free end of the tether connecting the three elements of the device. 
   
   
       5 . The combination as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the bi-directional rotation of the rotating cylindrical member is converted, by means of a freewheel mechanical device, into a single direction of rotation. Said freewheel device(s) to be implemented so as to capture both directions of rotation of the freely rotating cylindrical member attached to the flexible member (tether). 
   
   
       6 . The combination as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the flexible member is scaled in its length to match the depth and potential strength of the body of water in which the WEC is placed. A series in plurality of mechanical stops are installed onto the flexible member to prevent the suspended weight from making contact with either the subsurface (land) or the WEC's buoyant body. 
   
   
       7 . The combination as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the buoyant body of the WEC is placed between the mechanical stops of the flexible member. Said placement shall be such that the WEC's movement along the flexible member should be such that its total available motion shall remain behind the midpoint of its equalizing buoyancy as this is translated via the flexible member. 
   
   
       8 . The combination as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the flexible member is constructed of a neutral buoyancy material. Said material shall also have a stretchable and/or spring-like nature thus furthering the effectiveness in recovering relative linear motion between the elements of the apparatus. The material's nature shall also assist in lowering impact loading upon the system. 
   
   
       9 . The combination as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the mass of the freely suspended weight, attached to the free end of the flexible member, shall have sufficient potential kinetic energy so as to assist the WEC to return to the forward mechanical stop located on the flexible member. 
   
   
       10 . The combination as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the mechanical stops on the flexible member shall be designed so as to minimize shock loads as the buoyant shell reaches the end of travel, along same, by means of the rotating cylindrical body. 
   
   
       11 . The combination as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said mechanical means for utilizing the single direction rotational output of the freewheel device(s) is connected to an energy collection device(s) such as an electrical generator or pump. 
   
   
       12 . The combination as claimed in  claim 10  including a means for enhancing the characteristics of the rotation, wherein a flywheel(s) and/or mechanical transmission(s) is utilized to maintain and/or increase the speed of rotation supplied by the freewheel device(s) via input from the cylindrical body attached to the flexible member. 
   
   
       13 . A combination as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the freely rotating cylindrical member is substantially low in mass to minimize flywheel torque allowing for quick change in rotational direction. 
   
   
       14 . The combination as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said the low mass cylindrical member transfers its rotation in a single direction of rotation through the use of freewheel devices to flywheels of substantially high mass to increase their flywheel torque to assist in maintaining the output rotation in singular direction. 
   
   
       15 . The combination as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said flywheels contain a means for coupling their rotational energy to other devices which may easily translate their energy into useful work via electrical generation or pumping devices which may contain a mechanical or hydraulic transmission for enhancing said mechanical motion. These devices shall be referred to as power-takeoff-units (PTO) in further descriptions.